Love's Journeys *COMPLETE*

Chapter 24- The Death of a Friend


“I’m glad you two like it. It’s yours.” Arthur said as he stepped out of the shadows.


“What?!” Severus and Hermione cried.


“I’m giving you the island and the house. It belonged to Fudge, but when he was convicted of attempting to kill me and my family we got it in the settlement. Molly and I talked about it and we want you two to have it. We won’t take no for an answer.” Arthur explained.


“I don’t know what to say Mr. Weasley.” Hermione gasped.


“Honestly Arthur. It’s too much.” Severus added.


“Please. Consider it a late wedding gift from my family and me.” Arthur pleaded.


“Alright. Thank you Arthur.” Severus said as he shook Arthur’s hand.


“Thanks Mr. Weasley.” Hermione grinned as she hugged the older wizard.


“You two are very welcome. And, it’s Arthur Hermione. We are practically family.” Arthur smiled.


Severus and Hermione headed for their rooms to unpack and prepare for dinner. Severus watched as his wife zoomed around the room straightening things up. “What are you doing?” He asked.


“Just fixing things up. Trying to kill time before dinner.” She answered


At 6:00 they went down to dinner. The Gryffindor’s were still giving Hermione death glares. Ron, Lavender, Harry and Ginny were already seated at the staff table. “I bet you two are glad you don’t have to hide anything anymore huh?” Lavender asked.


“Yes. It feels good to not hide our marriage or our love for each other.” Severus said.


“How did you guys like the island?” Ron questioned, grinning from ear to ear.


“You knew!” Hermione cried.


“Yeah. Dad made me swear not to say a word.” Ron said.


“It was beautiful. Tell your whole family thank you for us will you?” Severus requested.


“You got it.” Ron replied.


Dinner continued. Everyone was either talking about Quidditch, school gossip or Severus and Hermione. Suddenly the doors to the Great Hall burst open. Everyone turned and watched as Tonks and Kingsley stumbled up to the staff table.


“He’s…he’s attacking the Ministry. Everyone is fighting.” Tonks gasped out.


“To my office.” Albus instructed.


Minerva, Sirius, Severus, Hermione, Remus, Ron, and Harry followed Albus. Ginny and Lavender returned to their rooms. Once everyone was seated Kingsley explained.


“Apparently Draco Malfoy saw yesterday’s copy of the Daily Prophet. About twenty minutes ago He appeared in the lobby of the Ministry. He began attacking everyone he could see. The whole place is in shambles.” Said Kingsley.


“Oh no. Was anyone hurt?” Hermione asked.


“Yes. Nothing major, just a few scratches. Arthur sent us here to protect you and Severus.” Tonks answered.


“Albus, we have to go and help them. With the Wand of Slytherin, there won’t be a Ministry of Magic left.” Sirius cried.


“What do we do?” Minerva demanded.


“Everyone please remain calm. Harry, have you found it yet?” Albus questioned.


“I think I know where it is. I found a passage in the book that spoke of a hidden chamber. It’s much like the Chamber of Secrets only it is used to house the wand.” Harry answered.


“What are you talking about?” Ron asked.


“We are sorry for not telling you sooner Ron, but we had to be safe. Harry had a dream the morning that Hermione woke up. When she was attacked by Pansy, Crabbe and Goyle. In the dream Godric Gryffindor told him about the Wand of Gryffindor. The wand can be used to destroy all the evil in the Wand of Slytherin.” Severus explained.


“How soon can you find the wand?” Remus questioned.


“I don’t know. I have to do some more reading to find the exact location of the chamber. Now that Ron knows he can help.” Harry answered.


At that moment Arthur stumbled into the office. “Dad!” Ron cried as he ran to his father.


Arthur had cuts and scratches all over his body. He collapsed just as Ron got to him. Harry ran and helped Ron lay his father on the couch.


“Arthur, what happened?” Remus asked.


“It was Malfoy. We thought he had backed off. I was sitting in my office, preparing to do an evaluation of the damage when he showed up. I tried to call for help but it was too late. We started to fight. I managed to escape with nothing more than a few cuts, scratches and bruises. I did injure him. I cut his arm with a pair of scissors that were on my desk.” Arthur gasped.


“Now what? Draco won’t give up till me and Severus are dead. He’s just going to keep coming and coming. He’s getting stronger by the day! No one is safe. Especially not our friends and family.” Hermione cried.


“I know. Our trust lies with Harry. When Harry finds the wand then and only then will the Wizarding World be safe once more.” Albus said.


“This is all my fault. If I hadn’t ever found out I was a witch or came to Hogwarts this wouldn’t be happening.” Hermione whispered as tears fell from her eyes.


Hermione jumped to her feet and ran from the office. She ran down the deserted hallways, through the front doors of the castle. She found herself at the edge of the lake. She dropped to her knees and cried. Severus started to run after her but Remus stopped him.


“Let me go. I can relate to how she’s feeling. I’ll bring her back to your rooms.” Remus replied.


“Please, bring her back safe Remus.” Severus pleaded.


Remus nodded and ran after Hermione. He found her kneeling at the edge of the lake crying her eyes out. Before he could reach her he saw Malfoy appear.


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“Well, well, well. What do we have here? The pathetic mudblood alone at night. Now that makes my job easier then doesn’t it.” Malfoy sneered as he approached her.

Hermione jerked her head up and gasped. She fell back on her butt and began to crab walk away from him. “Leave me alone.” Hermione growled drawing her wand and getting to her feet.


“Now, why would I do that?” Draco asked as he drew out the Wand of Slytherin.


Remus ran as fast as he could. Just as Draco withdrew the wand he threw himself physically at the young man. Both tumbled to the ground.


“HERMIONE RUN!” Remus screamed. Hermione didn’t run. She pointed her wand trying to get a clear shot at Draco. However because he and Remus were wrestling around, she couldn’t. “DAMNIT HERMIONE! RUN!” Remus roared.

She hated to leave him, but knew he needed help. She turned and ran for the castle.


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Severus, Albus, Minerva and Sirius were waiting in the main hall for Remus and Hermione when she came bursting through the doors. “Help! Remus! Draco! Lake!” Hermione gasped.


The group ran to Hermione. “Hermione, can you show us where they are?” Albus asked.


Hermione nodded. She lead them outside. There they found Remus and Draco circling each other wands drawn. Draco looked up and saw them running toward them. “Ahh. An audience. Just what I needed.” He sneered.


In a blink of an eye Draco had Remus in a headlock and the Wand of Slytherin pointed at his throat. “Now, it’s time for the mudblood and the traitor to learn what it feels like to lose someone they love. Say bye-bye Remus Lupin. ARVADA KEDAVRA!” Draco yelled.


Everyone watched in horror as a green light enveloped Remus. A second later his lifeless body fell to the ground. Draco laughed evilly and vanished.


“NOOOO! REMUS!” Hermione screamed as she ran to her beloved friend. She gently cradled his head in her lap. “No! Oh God No! Remus, you can’t leave us!” Hermione cried as she rested her cheek against his.


Severus knelt beside his distraught wife. He tried to pull her away but she shoved him off. “NO! It’s my fault Remus is dead! He was trying to protect me! It should be me laying here dead, not Remus!” Hermione screamed.


“Hermione, let’s go. He has to be taken inside.” Severus said gently. His own tears flowing down his cheeks.


Reluctantly Hermione released Remus’ body and allowed her husband to lead her back inside. Just inside the doors they ran into Harry. Hermione threw herself into her best friend’s arms.


“Severus, what happened? Harry asked. Just then he saw Albus levitating Remus’ body into the castle.


“It was Draco. Hermione was at the lake alone. Remus went after her to talk to her. Hermione came back in and took us to them. When we got there Draco used Remus as a human shield. He yelled the killing curse. There was nothing we could do.” Severus answered sadly.


“Oh no.” Harry sighed as he held Hermione tighter. He knew that Hermione thought of Remus as a second father.


“It…it’s…my…fault. All…my…fault!” Hermione stuttered gasping for air.


“She’s starting to hyperventilate again. Severus, we have to calm her down.” Harry said.


“Breath. Come on honey, just relax. Breath. Breath Hermione.” Severus pleaded softly as he placed his hands gently on her back rubbing them in small circles.


It did no good. Hermione began sobbing and gasping for air harder. She bent over and tried to get deeper and better breaths. Severus and Harry tried to get her to relax and just breathe normally but it did no good. After about a minute or two Hermione’s body went ridged and she collapsed into a crumpled heap on the floor.


“Harry, get Poppy and tell her what has happened. When she’s finished with Remus send her down. Could you do that?” Severus requested.


“Of course. I’ll be down there in a bit. I’ll bring the book as well. I think I’ve found something interesting.” Harry replied.


Severus scooped her into his arms, nodded at Harry and then headed to their room. Severus gently laid her onto the bed, magically placed her in her loose fitting nightgown, sat beside her and waited on Poppy.


Back in the hospital wing. Albus pushed open the doors with Remus floating behind him. “Albus, what happened?” Poppy exclaimed as she saw Remus.


“Draco Malfoy. Hermione ran to the lake. Remus went to talk to her. Draco showed up. By the time we got there it was too late. Draco used the killing curse. Remus is dead.” Albus answered.


Poppy closed her eyes as the tears threatened to spill out. She gently placed Remus on a cot and prepared his body for the ministry. Just then Harry came in. “Harry? What is it?” Poppy asked.


“It’s Hermione. She started to hyperventilate in the hall. I found her and Severus out in the main hallway. She fainted. Severus has taken her to their rooms. He asked me to tell you to come and check on her when you’re done with Remus.” Harry said sadly.


“Of course. I’ll be there in a few minutes.” Poppy said.


Harry nodded. He walked over to the man who was like a second father to him, patted his limp hand gently then turned and exited the hospital wing. He went to his room, got the book and headed to Severus and Hermione’s rooms.


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Severus looked up as Harry walked into the bedroom. “Poppy will be here in a few minutes.” Harry said as he sat beside Severus.

Severus just nodded. “Harry, how’s Sirius holding up? He just watched his best friend die at the hands of Draco Malfoy.”


“I don’t know. I haven’t checked on him.” Harry said.


“Why don’t you go and see him. You can come back tomorrow. I think Sirius is going to need you right now.” Severus instructed.


“You’re right.” Harry nodded. “I’ll leave the book here.” He added.


Harry placed the book on the bedside table, leaned over and kissed Hermione’s forehead, patted Severus’s shoulder then turned and left.


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“AAAAGGGGHHHH!” Sirius screamed as he threw a glass against the far wall of his rooms and fell to his knees as sobs wracked his body.

Minerva knelt beside her former student. “Sirius, Remus died a selfless death. He went out they way he would have wanted, protecting someone he cared about.” She said gently and soothingly.


“Why? Why did it have to be Remus? Why couldn’t it be me instead?” Sirius asked.


Minerva just held him as he cried for his best friend. Harry walked into the room and saw his godfather enveloped in the arms of Minerva.


“Sirius?” Harry said.

Sirius looked up and saw his godson. Harry walked over and knelt beside the older wizard. Sirius gathered Harry in a hug. “It will be all right. Remus isn’t truly gone. He will always be with us. Just like my mom and dad.” Harry whispered.


“Thank you Harry. I needed to here that.” Sirius said.


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Later that night Hermione slept soundly with Severus curled up beside her. ‘This is the final straw. Draco will pay. He’s not only going after me and Hermione, but those that we love. I promise you Remus. Your death will not have been in vain. Your death will be avenged. I swear.’ Severus thought. He then drifted off to sleep.


The next morning at breakfast Albus made a sad announcement. “Can I have everyone’s attention please?” Albus said. The hall fell silent. “Last night a tragedy struck us here at Hogwarts. Our beloved Professor Remus Lupin was killed by Draco Malfoy. Today, all classes will be canceled. Professor Lupin was an extraordinary man. He has overcome many obstacles in his life and was loved by many. He will surely be missed. Taking his place as our Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher will be Professor Sirius Black. Today you all will be allowed to pay your last respects to him in the chapel between 1 and 2 this afternoon. Thank you.” Albus announced.


After breakfast Hermione returned to her chambers. She spent the majority of the day in tears. Finally she went to pay her respects to Remus. As she approached his body the tears began to fall once more.


“My dear Remus. You were like a second father to me. I will never forget you. Your fight is over. I swear to you, your death will not be in vain. I will keep fighting. I won’t give up. I love you. Good bye my friend.” Hermione whispered. She leaned forward and kissed his forehead gently.


Severus was next. “Remus, what can I say. At one time we were bitter enemies. Now I am proud to call you my friend, my collogue, my brother. I will miss you. Rest in Peace.” Severus said as he placed his hand over Remus’.


Severus and Hermione made their way back to their rooms. Once in the privacy of their chambers they curled up in each other’s arms and cried for their friend.


T.B.C